[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 21 (Thursday, January 31, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6814-6815]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-02095]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Army Corps of Engineers


Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Islands and Levees Feasibility Study

AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The action being taken is the preparation of an environmental 
impact statement (EIS) for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Islands and 
Levees Feasibility Study (Delta Study). The EIS will be prepared in 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) will serve as lead agency for 
compliance with NEPA. The Delta Study will evaluate alternatives to 
meet the study goals of restoring sustainable ecosystem functions and 
improving flood risk management in the Delta, Suisun Marsh, and 
adjacent areas.

DATES: Written comments regarding the scope of the environmental 
analysis should be received at (see ADDRESSES) by March 15, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Written comments concerning this study and requests to be 
included on the Delta Study mailing list should be submitted to U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, Public Affairs Office, 
Attn: Delta Study Scoping, 1325 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
Public Affairs Office via telephone at (916) 557-7461, email at [email protected], or regular mail at (see ADDRESSES).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    1. Proposed Action. The Corps is preparing an EIS to analyze the 
environmental impacts associated with alternatives for restoring 
sustainable ecosystem functions and improving

[[Page 6815]]

flood risk management in the Delta, Suisun Marsh, and adjacent areas.
    2. Alternatives. The EIS will evaluate alternatives for achieving 
the purpose and need of the proposed action. To be developed through 
the Corps plan formulation process, the alternatives analyzed may 
include various combinations of ecosystem restoration and flood risk 
management measures designed to meet the dual objectives of restored 
ecosystem functions and improved flood risk management. The array of 
potential measures and possible combinations into alternatives will be 
determined based in part on information received during the scoping 
process.
    3. Scoping Process. a. Two public scoping meetings will be held to 
present an overview of the Delta Study and the EIS process, and to 
afford all interested parties with an opportunity to provide comments 
regarding the scope of analysis and potential alternatives. The first 
public scoping meeting will be held at the Old Sugar Mill 35265 Willow 
Ave, Clarksburg, California, on February 19, 2013, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. 
The study presentation is scheduled to begin at 5:30. The second public 
scoping meeting will be held at the Sheraton Grand Sacramento, 1230 J 
Street, Sacramento, California, on February 20, 2013, from 2:00-4:00 
p.m. The study presentation is scheduled to begin at 2:30.
    b. Potentially significant issues to be analyzed in the EIS include 
programmatic, project specific, and cumulative effects on aesthetics, 
agricultural resources, air quality, biological resources, cultural 
resources, geology and soils, hazards and hazardous materials, 
hydrology and water quality, land use and planning, noise, population 
and housing, public services, recreation, transportation and traffic, 
and utilities and service systems.
    c. The Corps will consult with the State Historic Preservation 
Officer to comply with the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, 
as amended and with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National 
Marine Fisheries Service to comply with the Endangered Species Act (16 
U.S.C. 1536). The Corps will also coordinate with the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service to comply with the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act 
(16 U.S.C. sec 661). Other resource agencies will be consulted with as 
applicable.
    d. A 45-day public review period will be provided for all 
interested parties individuals and agencies to review and comment on 
the draft EIS. All interested parties are encouraged to respond to this 
notice and provide a current address if they wish to be notified of the 
draft EIS circulation.
    4. Availability. The draft EIS is currently scheduled to be 
available for public review and comment in early 2014.

    Dated: January 23, 2013.
William J. Leady,
Professional Engineer, Colonel, U.S. Army, Commanding.
[FR Doc. 2013-02095 Filed 1-30-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P